HC Deb 06 June 1935 vol 302 cc2044-6
54. Mr. BURNETT

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to a case at the Aberdeen sheriff court, on 23rd May, in which a farmer was convicted of ill-treatment of a boy of 18 under his charge on licence from Rossie Farm School, Angus; whether he is aware that the boy was beaten on the body and legs with fists and with a stick, kicked on the body and legs, and submerged in a trough of water, and that the boy was stated to be on the border line of a mental defective; and what steps are being taken to ensure that boys sent out from a reformatory on licence are protected from such brutality?

Sir G. COLLINS

My attention has been drawn to this deplorable case and to the particulars stated. The employer has been convicted on the charge of assault and sentenced to two months' imprisonment. With regard to the last part of the question, the managers of approved schools maintain close touch with the young persons who are released on licence. In this case I am informed that the headmaster of the school wrote to the boy six times during the seven months period of the boy's employment at the farm. Only one reply was received and it contained no complaint. Various reports were received from the employer none of which contained any indication of serious difficulty. The headmaster of this school, who is a man of outstanding reputation in reformatory school work, has placed 1, 500 boys in satisfactory employment in the past 35 years and he has never before had a case such as this. I am having the records of employment of young persons released on licence from approved schools during the last 10 years specially examined, in order to as certain whether there is any general ground for instituting a more thorough and systematic supervision over such employments.

Mr. BURNETT

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for the reply, if I submit certain complaints to him will he consider the m?

Mr. LOGAN

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether there is a system of visitation in these cases, and when the last visitation took place?

Sir G.COLLINS

The re is a system of personal visitation, and the managers of the schools correspond with the boys. It is impossible to make the categorical statement that all the boys in different parts of Scotland are followed up very closely, though, as the hon. Member will have gathered from the last part of my original answer, I am having the whole matter reviewed over the last 10 years. In reply to the hon. Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Burnett), if he has any point in mind in connection with this matter and will bring it to my attention, I will readily look into it.

Mrs. TATE

Does the right hon. Gentle man consider that two months' imprisonment is an adequate punishment for an offence such as this? Does he not think that in offences such as this the "cat" should be the punishment?